Steering apparatus



SPL 30, 1941- G. J. MNNFOLK 2,257,613

STEERING APPARATUS Filed Maio-1d i1, 1958, sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

30, 1941. G, J, MANNFOi- K 2,257,613

STEERING APPARATUS Filed March ll, 1938 2 SheelZs-SheetI 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES earner oFFlcs STEERING APPARATUS George J. Mannfclk, New York, N. Y.

Application March 11, 1938, Serial No. 195,266

1 Claim.

This invention relates to steering apparatus and is an improvement of my invention for steering apparatus described in my application led January 25, 1938, Serial Number 186,758.

The object of the invention is the production of means detachably connected to the bow of a vessel for rotatively supporting the rudder or its steering apparatus.

The second object of the invention is the production of steering apparatus for a Vessel, by means of which the rudder can be detachably connected to therudder shaft and the support for said rudder.

The third object of the invention is the production of steering apparatus for a vessel which can. quickly and easily be detached from the vessel to make any repairs therefor.

i Another object of the invention comprises means whereby the supporting structure for a rudder can be easily` connected to a vessel without danger of leakage of Water into said vessel.

Other objects will be evident from the speciiication and drawings of this application.

`In the drawings, Fig. l represents a `partial vertical section through the bow of a vessel with an elevation of its steering apparatus in full lines; Fig. la indicates a fragmentary portion of an element of Fig. 1. Fig. 2 shows a right hand View of a portion of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 indicates a left hand View of a portion of Fig. l; Fig. 4 represents a left hand view of the rudder of the apparatus with its shaft, `viewed in the direction of the arrow A of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 shows a partial section of Fig. 1 on the line 5, 5: Fig. 6 indicates an enlarged view of one of the members of the housing for the ruddershaft with its appurtenances partly -in section, and a fragmentary portion of an enlarged section through the bow of the vessel; Fig. 7 shows a section through the members of the housing of the apparatus as on the line l, 'l of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 indicates an enlarged fra.,- mentary portion of Fig. 6 partly in vertical section and Fig. 9 is a top View of a portion of Fig. 8.

The steering apparatus comprises a housing, consisting of a pair of tapered members 30 and 4c having the annular faces 3| adjacent to their upper ends inclined to the longitudinal axis of said members. The members 36 and 49 are positioned opposite each other and extend through the opening S to be described. The member 30 has a pair of longitudinal projections 44 and the member 4|! has a pair of longitudinal recesses 45 that register with the projections 44. Strips of packing t8 are interposed between the projections similar groove 56.

longitudinal opening is made in each of the members 30 and d0, and one half of a pair of similar cylindrical cavities 52 and 53 larger in diameter than the openings 5B and in line therewith, are provided for the members 3l) and 40.

At the upper portion of both members 30 and lli] of the Yhousing is formed on their outer surfaces a groove 55, and at the lower portions of the said members of the housing is formed a In the groove 56 is detachably positioned the clamping strap 66 having the pair oi projecting ends 6|, and the latter are clamped together by the bolt 63. In the groove 55 is positioned a similar strap 65 having the projecting ends 55 with the bolt 61. By means of said clamping straps and their bolts, the members 36 and 46 of the housing are tightly; held together and the strips of packing :i8 prevent any water entering between said members.

At the upper end of each of the members 30 and fiii of the housing is indicated a one-half portion 'iii of a cylindrical projection. The said one-half portions i0 are bored for the packing 'i2 and are threaded for the gland 'I3 of a stuffing box. The lower portions of the members 3d and iii are `bored for the packing 'i4 and are threaded for the gland 'i5 of a stuing box.

From tach of the members @0 and fifi and at an angle thereto extend the one-half portions of a circular nange. l

The numeral 8B indicates a section through the bow of a vessel with the tapered opening V85. The sheathing of the vessel is shown at BB. Decks of the vessel are shown atii 'and B9. The rudf der shaft 9G extends through the openings 5|) at its upper end and which latter normally bears v against the halved portion and is bolted thereto by the bolts Ii.

The rudder of the steering apparatus is designated in its entirety by the numeral |63 and is shown having the blade IM. A projecting hub |65 with theupper tapering portions |06 is in- 44 and the recesses 45. One half of a cylindrical 55 tegral with the blade |84. A pin |69 is integral connecting member |21.

with and extends from the lower end of the hub |05. The upper end of the rudder |03 is held in clamped position by the clamping members 98 and 09 and their bolts ||0.

Each of the sleeves 92 bear on roller bearings. The latter each comprise the members of a supporting cage, which are detachably connected to each other by the screws H6. The members I |5 have each a plurality of appositely positioned openings ||1 for the ball rollers ||8.

A cap shaped support |20 bears on the members 30 and 40 of the housing and is axially in line with the rudder shaft 90. The rollers ||8 bear on the inner face of the bottom wall of the support |20. Pins |22 extend from the outer face of the support |20 and engage openings in the member 30 to prevent said support |20 turning. The support |20 provides a smooth surface for the ball rollers ||8 to roll on.

To the outer face of the bow end of the vessel to which the steering apparatus is attached is detachably fastened the supporting bracket designated in its entirety by the numeral |25. See Figs. 1, la and 3.

'Ihe bracket |25 comprises the longitudinal rectangular body portion |26, which at its lower end has at right angles thereto the projecting The upper end of the body portion |26 has integral therewith th-e curved clamping arm |28 with the openings |29. A detachable curved clamping arm |32 with the openings |33, is similar in shape to the clamping arm |28. The arm |32 has integral therewith the longitudinal rectangular member |34, which is bolted to the body portion |26 by the bolts |35. The clamping arms |28 and |32 are bolted to the bow of the vessel by the bolts |31.

To the lower end of the supporting bracket |25 is bolted the horizontal duplex support designated in its entirety by the numeral |40. See Figs. 1 and 5. The support |40 comprises the pair of similar rectangular horizontal members |4|. Each of the member |4| at its outer end has integral therewith the inclined portion |42 with the cylindrical bulge |43 forming the opening |43a, and at its inner end terminates in the curved clamping arm |44. The members |4| of the duplex support are bolted to each other by the bolts |45. The inclined portions |42 are positioned on opposite sides of the projecting connecting member |21 and are bolted thereto by the bolts |46. To the inner faces of the sheathing 86 at the bow 84 is fastened, the strengthening bracket |41, and screws |48 fasten the arms |44 to the sheathing 86 and extend into said bracket |41. i

To the lower face of the deck 88 is fastened a journal bearing housing |50, which has integral therewith the vertical bearings |52, |53 and the inclined bearing |54. A mitre gear |60 is fastened to the upper end of the rudder shaft 90. A vertical shaft |6| extends through the gland |62 secured to the deck 89 and through the bearing |52. A spur gear |64 is fastened to the lower end of the shaft |6|. A shaft |65 extends from the bearing |53 and has fastened thereto the bevel gear |66. The bevel gear |66 meshes With the mitre gear |60. A spur gear |6611 is fastened to the shaft and meshes with the spur gear |64. An operating wheel |68 is fastened to the upper end of the shaft |6|.

To the inner face of the bow portion of the vessel is fastened a circular separator disc |15 of metal having a tapered opening |16. To the disc |15 is detachably connected the annular clamping plate |80. by screws as shown. The

plate has integral therewith the annularl clamping projection |8|. The latter bears on the one-half portions 80, to detachably clamp the latter in place. A gasket is interposed between the portions 80 and the disc |15 to prevent any water passing through the openings 85 and |16. The members 30 and 40 of the housing extend through the said openings 85 and |16. To operate the steering apparatus the operating wheel |66 is turned in the required direction. The rudder |03 swings with the movements of the wheel |68 to the required position.

It will be noted that the supporting bracket |25 and the duplex support |40 can be easily connected to the bow of a vessel by the bolts |31 and the screws |48, and that the strengthening bracket |41 into which the screws |48 enter prevents leakage when the duplex support |40 is removed. When the members |4| of the duplex support; |40 are separated from each other by removing the bolts ||0, |45, |46 and the screws |48, the rudder |03 can be easily removed from the bow of the vessel.

It will also be noted that the supporting bracket |25 with the duplex support |40 function as a protector for the rudder |03, and prevent ice and other objects floating in the water injuring the said rudder |03.

Various modifi-cations may be made in the invention and the present exemplication is to be taken as illustrative and not limitative thereof.

Having described my invention I claim:

In a steering apparatus for a vessel the combination of a housing comprising a pair of tapered members extending through an opening of said vessel, each of said members having a onehalf portion of a cylindrical longitudinal opening therein and opposite each other, each of said members having a pair of one-half portions of cylindrical cavities larger in diameter than said openings and in line therewith, a rudder shaft rotatively positioned in the longitudinal openings of said members, a pair of sleeves connected to the rudder shaft positioned in said cavities, supporting cages with rollers xed in place to one of the members of the housing one below each of said sleeves, each of the sleeves bearing on the rollers in its adjacent cage and a rudder detachably connected to the rudder shaft.

GEORGE J. MANNFOLK. 

